Greek farmers: Obstacles to finding workers

Farmers from all over the country are in despair, as harvests have begun and labor is scarce at best, while the procedures that must be followed make it even more difficult to find land workers.

Thus, 16 Agricultural Associations from Chania, Heraklion, Lasithi, the Dodecanese, Messinia, Kastoria, Imathia, Pella, Kozani, Thessaloniki, Kavala and Alexandroupolis, sign a joint letter which they have sent to Minister of Immigration and Asylum and refer to the major issue of the lack of land workers but also the obstacles they find in their way and make it even more difficult to find workers.

At the same time, they are asking the government to take measures as “the effects on the Greek agricultural economy are already visible and are constantly intensifying”.

Farmers are in trouble

“The huge lack of labor force in the primary sector is the dominant issue that is currently plaguing the agricultural sector, all over Greece”, the farmers point out in their letter, noting that repeatedly, a number of agricultural bodies have sent requests to settle the parameters that related to the processes of finding labor personnel, from whatever source it is possible for this to happen.

“Today, Agricultural Associations from all over the territory join their voices and sign a joint letter with the basic acceptance of the Minister of Immigration and Asylum, Mr. Kairides, as the person responsible for solving the issues arising from the current legislation”.

The letter first demonstrates the quagmire that farmers across the Greek territory have found themselves in on this issue. At the same time, the pathologies in the present legislation related to the provisions for the hiring of land workers from third countries are mentioned and it is concluded by submitting documented proposals aimed at finding an immediate and substantial solution, within a certain time frame.

App problems

In addition, some of the problems of implementation of the legislation by the services of the other involved ministries are recorded, such as

– The unnecessary rejections of applications by the Greek Embassies (Ministry of Foreign Affairs),

– The application process at the local Residence Permit Departments (Ministry of the Interior),

– Non-refundable fees, – Redefining conditions for employment of the unemployed through state HR agency D.YP.A (former OAED) – The labyrinthine and time-consuming procedure for issuing VAT/Tax reg./Residence Permit (Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Labor)

and so many other issues that account for the trials and tribulations experienced by any employer forced to seek this solution, to find farmhands.

The 16 Agricultural Associations expect an immediate and positive response from Mr. Kairides, with whom, as they typically say, “we are in constant contact, he knows the problem in depth and we have jointly worked out a series of solutions. However, we also expect a similar response from the government as a whole, as the effects on the Greek agricultural economy are already visible and are constantly intensifying”.